Dorians

The Dorians were one of the four Greek tribes during the classical era. They originated in the mountainous regions of northern Greece, Macedonia, and Epirus, and they were named for Dorus, the son of Hellen. The Dorians had settled Crete by the time of the Trojan War in 1250 BC, and, around 1200 BC, the Dorians invaded mainland Greece and destroyed the Mycenaeans. They ushered in a new dialect and new traditions to Greece, spread across the mainland, and ushered in the Dark Ages, which would last until 800 BC. The Dorians chased the Achaeans into southern Greece, and the Achaeans forced the Ionians to flee to Asia Minor. The warlike Dorians went on to found the city of Sparta, which would come to rival the Ionian city of Athens.